Home pages of ten leading global-Asian academic library websites.

Limoni, Safie Tahmasebi ; Ghiasi, Mitra ; Razavi, Ali A. 等

Introduction

Considering research-educational mission of academic libraries as well as broad extent of information, designing websites for these kinds of libraries has been focused for recent years. The purpose of this consideration is to give more accurate and prompt information to audience especially main library users as members. This has been moving increasingly ahead by using modern informational-communicational technologies in academic libraries.

Obviously, accelerated changes in informational-communicational technologies field require libraries to move with planning to design appropriate websites qualified for users and operate based on previous experiences and knowledge. Therefore, they will gain a targeted and integrated website that is responsible for library service audiences. For this reason we will review and compare academic library websites that are globally prominent with the presumption that superiority of this group of libraries originates from their optimal services helping researchers and academic library websites designers perform better.

Problem Statement and Purpose

By emerging modern informational-communicational technologies especially internet as well as fundamental changes in human's life cycle, libraries and information centers like other social organizations have been affected by these technologies and they continuously make efforts to grow providing services through internet and web and reserve cooperation with the changes. One of the facilities developed by libraries to reach the goal is designing websites to implement library processes virtually.

Library websites was first used as places to introduce a library and its collection (Agingu, 2000). But by expanding internet technologies and more information accessibility, library websites particularly academic libraries do not merely introduce libraries target but they have been engaged as a golden information gate to access information available on different websites, electronic resources, etc.

Designing these websites and allocating efficient factors could be very important considering academic libraries cause as well as the libraries websites importance to communicate with users. But libraries have been still passing primary steps and displaying some defects and disorganizations on their websites. Therefore, what must be considered is to include qualifications which produce more dynamism on library websites and optimal relationship with users.

By specifying the difference between structural-constituent features of homepages of leading global-Asian academic libraries as well as comparing them with each other to assign differences and similarities on one hand and advantages and disadvantages of these websites on the other hand it seems we are able to gain standards to design academic library websites optimally.

Research Methodology

This research is a comparative-survey type. To assign samples, webometric classification data based on scientific standards have been engaged. In the study, a researcher-made checklist which is a combination of checklists developed by Raward (2001) and Fattahi & Hasanzadeh (2003) has been used. The checklist includes two parts, content and structure analysis of academic library websites as well as realizing constituent classification method of website and electronic resources type.

To analyze data, Chi-square tests and one-way variance analysis have been employed by using SPSS.

Statistical Population

The statistical population consists of academic library websites of 10 leading global -Asian universities displayed in following tables. In the study totally 20 websites belonging to global-Asian leading academic libraries have been reviewed. (2003) has been used. The checklist includes two parts, content and structure analysis of academic library websites as well as realizing constituent classification method of website and electronic resources type.

To analyze data, Chi-square tests and one-way variance analysis have been employed by using SPSS.

Statistical Population

The statistical population consists of academic library websites of 10 leading global -Asian universities displayed in following tables. In the study totally 20 websites belonging to global-Asian leading academic libraries have been reviewed.

Research Questions

To reach the research goals, following questions are suggested:

1. What are the differences among homepages of global-Asian academic library websites from the viewpoint of structural features?

2. What are the differences among homepages of global-Asian academic library websites from the viewpoint of constituent features?

3. How different are reviewed academic library websites from a constituent classification point of view?

4. How different are reviewed academic library websites from an electronic resources point of view?

Research Variables

Independent variable: Academic library websites

Dependent variable: constituent-structural features of websites.

Research Background

Steel (2001) suggests that constituent differences between the countries' websites result from cultural differences. Rich & Rabine (2006) explain some changes in academic library websites in the United States, electronic journal accessibility in libraries, academic library websites analysis, and typical terms for electronic journals on these websites. McMullen (2001) suggests five things to be avoided while designing a homepage of a library website. He also indicates that users would like a website in which they have easy access to books, journals, and information. They expect a library website to operate as a gate to the internet.

Smith & Telwal (2002) review the links among academic websites of Australian universities. The data are compared with the data collected from commercial search engines. Then the web impressive factor for Australian universities is measured by dividing the number of three countries' links to academic employees at the university. Robbins and Stylianou (2003) study structural-constituent features of 90 commercial websites based on "culture" and "career". The research data shows that there is a significant difference among most constituent features of websites in various cultural groups. Interestingly, no difference is seen on structural features. They also discover that there is a slight relationship between structural-constituent features of websites and "resources type".

George (2005) discovers that the website involves many problems about leading, screen page design, and labeling. He also suggests that following factors help usability increase; graphic and color attraction, font type and size, labeling and appropriate location of subject, accessibility of information observation, label-making and classification of keywords, legibility, and displayed subject integration.

Definitions

Constituent feature: Robbins and Stylianou (2003) believe that content is what available on a website and it recognizes various information types. According to the definition, constituent features can be divided into two categories:

1. Features observed on all websites such as title, index, help, etc.

2. Features that represent services specifically offered at a library such as: information service, inter-library loan, etc.

Structural features: According to the Huizingh's definition (2000), structure means a direction helping a website visitor access to content. Therefore, the factors such as website address and range, visual attraction, website map, and so on, may be considered structural features. In fact, the features are user-oriented that is why a client could be conducted to content through them.

Website design: a process planned to help content, information, and other purposed options in a certain structural framework to be transferred and convenient to the internet electronic environment (Babaee, 2005).

Academic libraries: libraries established to provide service to three groups at universities; staff, students, and faculty.

Research Findings

Question 1: What is the difference between homepage of global-Asian academic library websites from the viewpoint of structural features?

Table 3 shows the similarity between 10 leading global-Asian academic libraries, based on structural features, such as the first page, address & range, text legibility, upload speed & access to issues, retrieval convenience by general search engines, correct spelling & grammar, convenient link to other parts of the library. Therefore the reviewed websites include mentioned factors comprehensively.

Table 3. Structural features of leading global-Asian
academic library websites

Asia                 World

No         Yes      No       Yes

Percent  Percent  Percent  Percent     District     Series
                                       Structural
                                       Features

             100        0      100  first page

             100        0      100  address-range

10            90        0      100  organization
                                    on the first
                                    page

             100       20       80  convenient
                                    option(s) on
                                    the title page
                                    to access
                                    electronic
                                    resources

10            90      100        0  convenient
                                    search engine
                                    on the first
                                    page

             100       60       40  convenient
                                    page for
                                    electronic
                                    resources
                                    separately

             100       30       70  electronic
                                    mail on the
                                    first page

             100        0      100  text
                                    legibility

             100       40       60  appropriate
                                    font

             100        0      100  upload speed &      10
                                    access to
                                    issues

10            90       80       20  visual               1
                                    attraction

             100        0      100  retrieval            2
                                    convenience by
                                    general search
                                    engines

10            80       70       30  website map          3

             100        0      100  correct              4
                                    spelling &
                                    grammar

100            0       80       20  printability         5

20            80       30       70  convenient           6
                                    link to other
                                    academic
                                    libraries

             100        0      100  convenient           7
                                    link to other
                                    parts of the
                                    library

30            70      100        0  link between        18
                                    the library
                                    homepage and
                                    non-academic
                                    libraries

20            80        0      100  link between         9
                                    the library
                                    homepage and
                                    institutional
                                    homepage

In addition, ten leading global academic library websites show better position for three factors than Asian websites. The factors are: organization on the first page (100% vs 90%), printability (20% vs 0%), and the link between the library homepage and organizational homepage (100% vs 80%). But ten leading Asian academic library websites demonstrate better operation than global universities for other factors.

To compare reviewed websites based on current structural differences, table 4 shows that there are significant differences in following factors with regard to Chi-square test data:

Convenient search engine on the first page (P = 000), convenient page for electronic resources separately (P = 0.003), visual attraction (P = 0.002), and the link between the library homepage and non-academic libraries (P = 0.001).

The review of table 3 indicates that studied Asian websites have more excellence for all factors than global universities.

Question 2: What is the difference between homepage of global-Asian academic library websites from the viewpoint of constituent features?

Table 5 shows that there are similarities between reviewed global-Asian websites for following factors:

Table 5. Frequency distribution of constituent features
of leading global-Asian academic library websites.

       Asia         World

Yes %  No %  Yes %  No %

0         0      0      0  last date of update

         00            00  library resource list

0         0      0      0  FAQ

0         0      0      0  News and updates

0         0      0      0  Web manager email

0         0      0      0  library's future plans

0         0      0      0  reservation & safekeeping

0        00      0      0  Electronic reference resources

0        90      0      0  Library departments

         00      0      0  library history                 0

0         0      0      0  common thematic list            1

0         0      0      0  Library services                2

00        0      0      0  discussion group                3

0         0      0      0  databases                       4

0         0      0      0  application form                5

Library resource list (100%), introducing library's parts (90%), and bibliographic database & full text (60%).

For following factors, global websites excel Asian ones:

Websites designer's address & management (90% Vs 70%), convenient service for reservation & safekeeping (90% Vs 60%), common thematic list (90% Vs 60%), library's specific service (60% Vs 20%), and discussion group (20% Vs 0%).

For the rest of the factors, the priority is considered for ten leading Asian academic library websites.

Table 6 shows that there is no significant difference between ten leading global-Asian academic library websites with regard to constituent features.

Table 6. Review of constituent differences between leading
global-Asian academic library websites

P Value        X2 value        Features             Series


0/074               3/2  last date of update             1

1                   000  library  resource list          2

0/160             1/978  frequently  asked               3
                         questions  FAQ

0/160             1/978  Library news                    4

0/264             1/250  website designer's              5
                         address & management

0/606             0/267  introducing  library's          6
                         future plans

0/121               2/4  convenient service for          7
                         reservation & safekeeping

0/010             6/667  electronic reference            8
                         resources

1                   000  introducing library's           9
                         departments

0/136             2/222  library's history              10
0/121               2/4  common thematic list           11

0/068             3/333  library's specific             12
                         service

0/136             2/222  discussion group               13

1                   000  bibliographic database         14
                         & full text

0/264              1/25  application form               15

Question 3: How different are reviewed academic library websites from a constituent classification point of view?

Table 7 shows that total constituent classification on the ten leading global academic libraries is more than Asian universities (27 vs 10). At global universities the most and least percentages of constituent classification based on information origin (library itself, other centers) and alphabetically names with reference and service title are 33.3% and 7.4% respectively. At Asian universities the most and least percentages of constituent classification based on alphabetically names with reference and service title, and information origin (library itself, other centers) are 27.3% and 0% respectively.

Table 7. Comparison of constituent classification features on
leading global-Asian academic library websites

Asia             world              District
                                    Constituent
                                   classification
                                      feature

percent  No.  percent  No.

18/2       2     25/9    7  based on service type (reference,
                            etc.

18/2       2     22/2    6  based on reference type (print,
                            electronic)

27/3       3      7/4    2  alphabetically list of services

0          0     33/3    9  Based on information origin (library
                            itself, other origin (library

27/3       3     11/1    3  other methods

100       10      100   27  total

Table 8 shows that there is no significant difference of constituent classification between leading global-Asian academic library websites (P = 0.750).

Table 8. Chi-Square test: review of difference between leading
global-Asian academic library websites with regard to constituent
classification

                    Pearson Chi-Square  DF  P Value

Pearson Chi-Square              10/017   5    0/750

Question 4: How different are reviewed academic library websites from an electronic resources point of view?

Table 9 shows that on ten leading global-Asian academic library websites, the most and least percentages of websites with links for databases and both reference resources and text books are 36% and 4% respectively. At Asian universities the most and least percentages of websites with referrals for journal, book, reference resources, databases and text books are 21.3% and 0% respectively.

Table 9. Frequency distribution of electronic resource
type on leading global-Asian academic library websites

Asia             World

Percent  No.  Percent  No.  District Resource Type

21/3       0       24       journal

21/3       0       20       book

4/9        7        2       research articles

0          0        4       text books

21/3       0        4       reference resources

21/3       0       36       databases

100        7      100    5  total

Table 10 shows that there is no significant difference between ten leading global-Asian academic library websites with regard to referred electronic resource type (P = 0.254).

Table 10. Chi-Square test: review of the difference
between leading global-Asian academic library websites
with regard to referred electronic resource type

                    Pearson Chi-Square  DF  P Value

Pearson Chi-Square               6/575   5    0/254

Conclusion and Discussion

To respond to the first question in accordance with the data it could be concluded that structurally ten leading Asian academic library websites design are more perfect than global universities, based on descriptive findings, leading Asian academic library websites have poorly performed for just 3 out of 19 structural features. These are as follows:

Convenient organization on the first page (100% vs 90%), printability (20% vs 0%), and the bond between library homepage and academic organizational homepage (100% vs 80%).

As it can be seen, the main weak point of reviewed Asian websites is not including printability on the first page, but this weak point is not important for the two other factors. For other factors there is similarity between reviewed websites or, Asian websites show more priority than global ones. This priority can be seen also in the review of significant difference between purposed structural features because there is significant difference in only 4 out of 19 factors and in the rest of the factors, the priority belongs to the reviewed Asian websites, the 4 factors are:

Convenient search engine on the first page (P = 000), convenient page for electronic resources separately (P = 0.003), visual attraction (P = 0.002), and the bond between library homepage and non-academic libraries (P = 0.001).

To respond to the second question about constituent features of ten leading global-Asian academic library websites, the data indicate that the priority of 7 out of 15 features belongs to Asian websites while the ten leading global academic library websites excel Asian websites for 5 factors: website designer's address and management (90% vs 70%), convenient reservation and safekeeping service (90% vs 60%), common thematic list (90% vs 60%), library's specific service (60% vs 20%), and discussion group (20% vs 0%).

As it can be observed, the main weak point of reviewed Asian websites is not including discussion group (0%) and library's specific service (20%) but the weak point in other factors is not important. To review the differences, Chi-Square test indicates that despite the collected data, there is no significant difference between the two groups of websites. This would suggest that design of ten leading global-Asian academic library websites has been considered equally. Otherwise, the data indicate that the main difference between reviewed websites is related to structural type but constituent, although the priority of two features belongs to ten leading Asian academic library websites.

The significant differences determined in structural features are specific and limited and can be easily examined and changed. But the effects of cultural differences should not be ignored, according to the studies developed by Steel (2001) and Robbins and Stylianou (2003), cultural differences are influential in website designs.

Therefore uniformity of website designs at international level may help search, retrieval, and access to information to be integrated and coordinated and also usability will be more convenient for users around the world.

To respond to the third question about constituent classification, it can be seen that although there is no significant difference between the two reviewed groups of websites (P = 0.750), there are some slight differences. The review of differences indicates more priority of global websites than Asian ones except for constituent classification based on alphabetically names with resource and service title that ten leading Asian academic library websites show better performance than global ones (27.3% in Asia vs 7.4% in the world).

To respond to the fourth question about referral to electronic resources it can be seen that there is no significant difference between the reviewed global-Asian websites. But the number of referrals to electronic resources in various forms in ten leading Asian academic library websites is more than global ones (47 cases in Asia vs 25 cases in the world). The important point on this comparison is lack of referral to text books on the reviewed Asian websites. Although this can be seen just once on the ten leading global academic library websites, therefore it will be considered that both groups of websites pay trivial attention to this type of referral. This point should be regarded because the reviewed websites are academic and major part of clients will be the students who need to use text resources.

Recommendations

According to the findings, following points for designing of library websites are recommended:

Using librarians' ideas on designing library websites

Verifying constituent features

Providing training for librarians on user-oriented website design

Raising awareness of copyright aspects of websites.

Resources and References

Agingu, B. O. (2000). Library web sites at historically black colleges and universities. College and Research Libraries 61(1): 30-37.

Asgharipodeh, A. (2001). Review of factors and features considered for designing academic library websites. Thesis for Master's degree, Ferdosi University, Mashhad.

Ilkhani, S. (2000). Published information efficiency on homepages in research centers of Tehran. Thesis for Master's degree, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Shomal unit.

Babaee, M. (2002). Design of library websites: Methods and procedures, Electronic Journal of Iran Scientific Document & Information Center (Nama) 2 (1)

Fatahi, R., & Hasanzadeh, M. (2004). Study and evaluation of information organization method on academic library websites. Article collection of Iran's information and library association conventions. Tehran: Iran's Information and Library Association, Iran Document Organization and National Librar. Vol. 2

Farajpahlo, A., & Saberi, M. (2009). Review of structural-constituent features suggested on designing Iranian academic library websites from Iranian users and applicants' point of view. Library Message, 14(4) p 107-126

George, C. A. (2005). Usability testing and design of a library website: An interview approach. OCLC Systems and Services, 21(3): 167-180

Huizingh, E.K.R.E. (2000). The content and design of web sites: An empirical study. Information & Management. 37:123-134.

Raward, R.(2001).Academic library website design principles: development of checklist. Australian Academic and Research Libraries 32(2):123-136

Rich, L.A., & Rabine, J.L. (2001). The changing access to electronic journals: A survey of academic library websites revisited. Serials Review 27 (3/4).

Robbins, S.S., & Stylianou, A.C. (2003). Global corporate websites: An empirical investigation of content and design. Information & Management 40(3): 205-212

Table 1. The list of leading Asian academic library websites

Library website address                          University

http://www.lib.u-tokyo.ac.iD/index-e.htm         Tokyo
                                                 University

http://www.lib.ntu.edu.tw/english/index-htm      National
                                                 University
                                                 of Taiwan

http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index-e.htm             Kyoto
                                                 University

http://www.lib.hku.hk                            Hong Kong
                                                 University

http://wwwtsukuba.ac.jp/protal/index-eng.php     Tsukuba
                                                 University
                                                 (Japan)

http://www.lib.en.ncku.edu.tw/bin/home.php       National
                                                 University
                                                 of Cheng
                                                 Keng

http://www.162.105.138.207/enhtml/index.htm      Beijing
                                                 University

http://www.libcuhk.edu.hk/common/reader/channel  Chinese
                                                 University
                                                 of Hong
                                                 Kong

http://wwwtsinghua.edu.cu/eng/index.isp          Tsinghai
                                                 University

http://www.nagoya-u.ac.jp/en                     Nagoya
                                                 University

Table 2. The list of leading global academic library websites

Library website                          University

http://libraries.mit.edu            Massachusetts
                                    Institute of
                                    Technology

http://lib.harvard.edu              Harvard University

http://library.stanford.edu         Stanford University

http://lib.berkeley.edu             University of
                                    California--Berkeley

http://www.cornell.edu/libraries    Cornell University
www.library.wisc.edu//books         University of
                                    Wisconsin

http://www.lib.umn.edu              University of
                                    Minnesota

http://www.library.illinois.edu     University of
                                    Illinois

http://www.umich.edu/libraries.php  University of
                                    Michigan

Table 4. Comparison of structural differences between
leading global-Asian academic library websites

P Value    X2         Features                    Series
         value

           000  first page

           000  address-range

/305      /053  organization on the first page

/135     2/222  convenient option(s) on the
                title page to join electronic
                resources

00       6/364  convenient search engine on the
                first page

/003     8/571  convenient page for electronic
                resources separately

/06      3/529  electronic mail separately
                page

           000  text legibility

/025         5  appropriate font

           000  upload speed & access to issues        0

/002     9/899  visual attraction                      1

1          000  retrieval convenience by              12
                general search engines

/025     5/051  website map                            3

           000  correct spelling & grammar             4

/136     2/222  Printability                           5

606      0/267  convenient link to other academic      6
                libraries

           000  convenient link to other parts of      7
                the library

/001     0/769  the link between the library           8
                homepage and non-academic
                libraries

/136     2/222  the link between the library           9
                homepage and organizational
                homepage

Safie Tahmasebi Limoni

Islamic Azad University, Babol, Sa_tahmasebi2@hotmail.com

Mitra Ghiasi

Islamic Azad University, Babol, ghiais@baboliau.ac.ir

Ali A. Razavi

Islamic Azad University, Babol, aa_razavi@yahoo.com

Limoni, Safie Tahmasebi; Ghiasi, Mitra; and Razavi, Ali A., "Home Pages of Ten Leading Global-Asian Academic Library Websites" (2012). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Paper 830.

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/830

Safie Tahmasebi Limoni

PhD Student

LIS Faculty

Islamic Azad University Branch of Babol

Babol, Iran

Email: Sa_tahmasebi2@hotmail.com

Mitra Ghiasi, PhD

LIS Faculty

Islamic Azad University Branch of Babol

Babol, Iran

Email: ghiais@baboliau.ac.ir

Ali A. Razavi

PhD Student

LIS Faculty

Islamic Azad University Branch of Babol

Babol, Iran

Email: aa_razavi@yahoo.com